Apparatus for the manufacture of convoluted rods



VOLUTED RODS H; A. PERKINS 7 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CON Filed Jan. 19, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. fia'arzLperk/bs Mode/ems PAa/awa E'xecu tors A TTORNE Y Aug. 20, 1946. H. A. PERKINS 2,405,033

I APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONVOLUTED RODS Filed Jan. 19, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet s Fl '3 [/9 9 12a #4 n I Hiram A. Perkins, Dceaqgd,

ATTORNEY Au 20, 194 n. A. PERKINS 2,406,033

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONVOLUTED RODS s Sheets-Shet '4 Filed Jan. 19, 1944 Jzuarf L Perkins I Madehine PHdMdM flg fxecuior:

AZTORNEY Aug. 20, 1946. H p s I 2,406,033

. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONVOLUTED RODS FiledvJan. 19, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 $0 759 Hiram A. Per/ans, Deceased,

' IN V EN TOR. Jzaarz L Perkins 1 ade/eizzePHat/zaway fxecutors.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONVOLUTED RODS Original application August 31, 1949, Serial No. 354,945. Divided and this application January 19, 1944, Serial No. 518,827

8 Claims.

'unit of time, thus correspondingly lowering the cost of production.

Other improvements of the present invention materially reduce'the timerequired to place a new supply roll in operative position on the machine and to start the machine with the sheet material of a new roll and to maintain the operative relationship of the supply roll to the other .machine components by axially and precisionally moving the supply roll during the operation of the machine.

"The illustrative improvement over the apparatus disclosed in .my prior co-pending application involves high speed operation in combination with means for maintaining the uncut rod ends within adequate range of the stick cutter knives without any interruptionto the operation-of the machine.

In compliance with the Federal patent statutes and particularly Sec. 4888 R. S., the invention will now be describedwith reference to certain specific embodiments; other objects and characteristics of the invention appearing from that description.

The description of the invention has reference to the accompanying drawings in which the reference characters indicate parts which are similarly referred to in the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the illustrative machine.

Figs. 2 and 2A are partial longitudinal vertical sections through a machine for manufacturing the illustrative candy sticks, the machine producing sticks of less than A; in. diameter at a rate at least as great as 900 sticks per minute.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the rod cutter.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the rod cutter.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a part of the rotatable supply roll mount.

Fig. Bis-a partial front elevation of the supply roll mount.

Fig. '7 is a plan of the supply roll mount.

Fig. 8 is a view in the nature of 2. Vertical elevation showingparts of the operating and control mechanism.

In the operation-of the illustrative machine supply rolls of a coated paper are employed. The paper is preferably white and its properties are such that it facilitates the bonding of the sticks at a rapid rate-of production and promotes the manufacture of a superior confection'support.

During the operation of the machine paper or other sheet material It! (Fig. 1) is continuously unwound from a supply roll II and pulled into the machine by the action of the stripcutter rolls l2 and I3, and their associated rolls. The strip cutter roll I 3 is provided at diametrically opposed positions on its periphery with projectingknives M and I5 (see Fig. 2) or saw teeth which cooperate with recesses l6 and H in the roller [2 to sever the paper into strips.

Each severed strip l8 passes downwardly from the strip cutter and is guided'into contact with a fluted crimper roll I 9 and a, rubber covered roll 29 with which the crimper roll may be said to be inter-geared. The rubber covered roll 29 intergears with the crimper roll as a result of such relative positioning of the crimper roll l9 and the rubber covered roll 29 that the teeth 2| of the former depress the rubber covering of the roll 29 during the operation .of the machine.

Each paper strip I8 descending from the cutter roll is thus gripped between the crimper roll and the rubber covered roll and is crimped or creased by the sharp edges or flutes of the crimper roll as the strip advances.

The crimper roll I9 is also provided along its length with a plurality of circumferential grooves, the base of each of which is lower than the grooves of the flutes of the crimper roll. These grooves receive the lower ends of correspondingly shaped teeth of a stripper plate 24 rigidly secured to a heavy convoluter plate 25 which determines the upper surface of a tapered passage in which the crimped strips are initially convoluted. The details ofthis structure are shown in the parent application 354,945 (now Patent 2,357,846, September 12, 1944).

The lower surface of the convoluting passageway 26, particularly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is determined by a fixed bedplate structure 21 over which is trained a main belt or carrier 28, normally moving in the direction of the arrows 29 of Fig. 2.

As the leading edge of a paper strip it proceeds around the crimper roll l9 it comes incontact with the teeth of the stripper plate which act to 3 separate it from the crimper roll. This action continues until the stripped art of the sheet material forms a loop 30 projecting sufficiently away from the crimper roller to come into contact with the continuously moving carrier 28.

sition and the separated loop is then so increased in length and so moved away from the crimper roller that the conjoint effect of the crimping of the strip and the movement of the'belt causes the strip to begin to convoluteas indicated at 31 in Fig. 2.

As the crimped and convoluted strip is moved along by the carrier the number of its convolutions increases, and the overall transverse dimension of the loosely convoluted roll decreases as indicated at 32-38 inc. (Figs. 2 and 2A) The efiect of this action, in combination with th taper of the convoluting passageway is such that the loosely convoluted roll assumes somewhat of an ovate shape as at 33. This is undesirable in the present product, and, the operation of the illustrative apparatus would be much less efficient, possibly to the extent of being economically inoperative if such action were allowed to continue. The effect of such action is counteracted at the end of the convoluting passageway "28 by providing a first compacting zone C in which the stick passageway is such that it permits the loosely convoluted rolls to' change their ovate shape and assume a more nearly round contour immediately after they reach the exit of the convoluting passage, and as indicated by a comparison of stages 33 and 34.

The compacting passage 46 in th zone C is preferably tapered downwardly from its entrance at stage 34 so as to speed up the further convoluting and compactingof the looselywound rolls. This speed-up however, again causes the compacted rolls to assume an ovate shape as they reach the end of the zone C and, consequently, there is provided a second compacting zone D at the entry of which the compacted rolls are permitted to change from the ovate shape to a more nearly round shape. Otherwise the second compacting zone is similar to the first compacting zone but it has such characteristics that the convoluted sticks are decreased in their outside diameter as compared to the sticks discharging from the first compacting zone.

A third compacting zone E bears the same relationship to the preceding compacting zone D as the latter does to the compacting zone C and beyond the zone E the compacted sticks pass through a longer zone F. In the latter the com- Thereupon the remaining part of the crimped strip is separated from the crimper roller at an advanced potion over which the main belt slides, and inasmuch as the bedplate determines the lower surface of the compacting and setting passageway the bedplate must be permanently and accurately pacted sticks are subjected to pressure and a.

convoluting effect for such an increased length of time that the sticks become permanently set. Also, this action takes place simultaneously with a bonding action which will receive subsequent reference.

Beyond the zone F the sticks pass through a zone G in which they'are straightened and squared up with their longitudinal axes at substantially 90 degrees to the direction of travel of the main belt. This positioning of the sticks facilitates clean and sharp severing of the master sticks into candy sticks of the desired length in thestick cutting zone H, and promotes the advantageous finishing or burnishing of the ends of the severed sticks. 7 V I The side frame members are formed'with motor i openings 46 and are provided with projections 49 and 59 at the infeed end, of the machine so as to facilitate the removal of exhausted paper supply set so as to give the correct vertical dimensions of the passageway within very close tolerances.

Above the bedplate is mounted the presser plate construction 61, extending from the fixed convoluter plate 25 to the discharge end of the main belt. The main part of this construction is preferably a casting having a friction facing 61 The width of this casting is about the same as the main belt, and the presser plate is pivotally mounted upon the bedplate construction in order that it may be readily swung upwardly to its inoperative position to permit inspection "of the main belt, master stick cutter, or other components of the machine.

For inspection of the stick engaging surface of the presser plate the machine is so arranged and constructed (see the parent application) that the attendant may be able to move the presser plate to its inoperative position as quickly as possible sticks as the latter are rolled along by the movement of the belt, the rear ends of the cutting edges of the blades being positioned at a, level spaced above the upper surface of the belt a distance equal to approximately one-half of the diameter of the master sticks. Thus the latter may be said to be given a rolling out upon the master sticks.

The blades of the stick cutter must have different spacings for candy sticks of different lengths. Sometimes candy sticks 3 inches long are made and at other times sticks 5 inches long may be made, and the illustrative machine is adapted to produce sticks of such difierent lengths. To this end the cutter blades are frictionally gripped by the main filler blocks IOT-l09 which correspond in width to the desired length of candy stick. Such filler blocks are clearly indicated in Figs, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The cutter assembly includes end filler blocks I I0 and l i l preferably of the same length a the main filler blocks and all of these blocks are drilled to provide aligning bores which receive the tie rods or through-bolts I I2 and H3. This filler block and rod assembly is set up in a jig assembly preferably takes place. while the entire cutter organization is inverted, and after the 5. blades areaccurately set, the-filler blocksare tightened against .the blades by through-bolts I I2 and 3. Then the :cap screws .9. passing through free holes in the cutter jbase II.4: are

tightly screw threaded into the filler blocks with" their heads in engagement with the upper surfaceof thebase so asto render the entire cutter head or cutter assembly, a rigid'unit.

After the cutterassembly is thus completed itis placed in its operativeu osition with referenceto the presser plate andheldtherem by means .ofthe contact of the projections .IZIIand I2 I at the end of the cutterbasewith ledges or shoulders I22 and 123 on the side portions I24 and I25 of thepresser plate. These projections are releasably held against: these shoulders by any suitable means.

To facilitate the manual removal of the'cutter assembly from the presser plate the'latter is providedalong its. upper portion with tapped openings 'adaprted'to receive the handles I26.

Considering the progress of the compacted rolls through the zones of operation asthey are indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and more particularly considering the cutting of the sticks, it has been found that, due to various factors, the sticks will sometimes become slightly bowed,

or will attain positions wherein they are out of parallelism (or oblique to their general-path of travel) as they proceed through the convoluting and compacting passageways. This action may result from any one of a number of factors, or from a combination of them. For example, the paper may have imperfections here and there so as tovary' the resistance of the opposite ends of the sticks to their travel through the compacting passageway.

When the sticks get outof parallelism, or when they become excessively bowed in their travel through the machine they are apt to interfere with the progress of adjacent sticks so as to cause them to pile up and stop the operation of the machine. Furthermore, the stick cutter can operatemuch more successfully if the sticks are squared up as they roll over the cutter knives Ills-I08.

-For straightening andaligning the sticks as they approach the stick cutter, mechanism which is shown in some details in Figs. 2A,,3 and 4, inclusive, is provided.

This stick straightening and aligning mechanism includes a frame I'2'I disposed forwardly of the stick cutter and above the presser plate structure; This frame has rigid therewith a plurality of stick contacting or cam lift members I28-I3I which'project downwardly through openings in the presserframe. In the present arrangement, four of such members are clearly indicated in Fig. 4. They are aligned transversely of the path of movement of the sticks through the machine, and the master sticks contact these members as indicated by the relationship of the master stick I32 to them as shown.

The lower ends of the cam lift members I28-I 3I project into the compacting passageway and their end surfaces are bevelled as indicated at I33 so that as a master stickapproaches these surfaces as indicated it will have a camming action tocause the pivoted frame'to rise.

The rear end of the frame carries a stop bar I34 projecting into the path of the sticks, and each stick contacts this bar so as to become straightened or brought into parallelism with the normal to the general path of the movement of the sticks through'the machine, before the sucof damaging the external convolutions 6 ceeding stick operates the cam lift members to lift the frame. This action, of course, raises the stop bar and permits the straightened andv cam lifts, and this is attained by the actionof a compression spring. I35w on upright stem. I36

which is secured to the presser plate. Thisspring abuts against an adjustable stop I31 on the upper endof the stem so that the. rapidity of. the return ofthe cam lifts and stop barto their lowerposition can be controlled.

The action .of the stick straightening and align,- ing, mechanism may be further. modified. bya. similarly adjustable compressionspring I40 which,

acts upon an arm I rigid with thestraightener frame and extending forwardly thereof as indicated in Fig. 2A. The coil spring .ofa-this mechanism is usually under compression so as to urge this arm downwardly toward the bedplate .struca ture, and the force with which this is done can be adjusted in the usual manner.

It is to be appreciated that the master sticks,.

as they pass through the straightening. and squaring-up zone G will more readily be straightened and aligned if they are relieved, to a substantial extent,.from the compacting pres sure, or the grip with: which they are :moved through the machine; At the sametime, it isi necessary that the master sticks be continuously and positively gripped so that their forward movement will not be subject to excessive variation. For example, if for any reason the progress of ,anycertain master stick through the machine should be stopped, then the'succeeding sticks would pile up against it and seriously interfere.

with the operation of the machine.

- It is also to be appreciated that, in order to obtain the maximum of'stick production upona' given machine, the spacingof the sticks in the convoluting and compacting passageway must be small. It is therefore preferable that the mug-- ress of the master sticks must be under positive control at allrtimes; These optim m conditions are-attained by relieving the maj r portionsof the master sticks of compacting pressure'as they pass from the cam lifts to the stop bars. inithe zone G. The, midgpcrtions of themaster sticks are, however, held under advancing. pressure :by a central strip M2 which projects'djownwardly from the adjacent surfaces of the lower face of the presser plate facing 61 between the cam lift members I28, et seq. and the stop bar I311. The width of'the strip'projection I42 is but a small fraction of the length of the master stick sothat theends of the latter are relatively free as they move through the straightening and aligning zone. During this movement, and if one of the master strips is oblique to the intended path of advance, its leading end will strike the stop bar under. such conditions that the greater part of the stick canbe readily deflected and squared up with the stop bar without any appreciable danger of the stick.

The width of the strip or projection I42is such that the master sticks are gripped only in a narrow zone at their mid portions.

the machine from the supply roll, and the-roe tating elements which sever the materialinto.

stick :strips and the mechanism for crimping the strips fsof asfto initiate their convolution are mounted in a roll standindicated in Fig.1. ..-.By.

ments I l-and I projecting from the cooperating.

cutter roll it. Both of. these rolls are positively driven" from the same immediatei driving element tomaintain proper operative registration of the cutter knives and therecesses'of the presser roll.-'

The severed stripsof paper are advanced to a position wherein they are,inl succession, forced againsti the crimper'roll I.9.by the'rubber' faced roll '20. The latter is pressed against the crimper roll and it is positively driven so that its resilient surface will act to inter-gearthese two elements, the paper being crimpedover. the teeth or flutes of the crimper roll.

The -roll stand also provides support for an easily shiftable frame I43 carrying the weighting rollers |44- and 145, the lower one of which is provided with a resilient facing I46 normally pressing. the paper against the recessed presser roll l2-.:sov as to cause the paper. to be 'operatively gripped. This causes the paper to be continuously and uniformly pulled from the supply roll at the infeed end of the machine.

The cutter roll 13 is preferably a steel cylinder journalled in anti-friction bearings in the roll standisides, and its'diametrically opposed knives l4 and 15 are preferably in the form of sawtoothed blades, the teeth of which have such action-that they willreadily cut through the paper with a minimum of resistance. Their 'cut ting action is alsoenhancedby the fact that they are arranged tocontact'with the paper as it is stretched across one of the recesses 16 and I! in the presserroll, the'speed of operation of the crimped roll being so co-related with the strip cutting mechanism as to attain this condition,

right passage I51 defined on its rearward side by a' fixed guide member I58 secured to the roll stand sides,-and;havingits front wall defined'by a sec ond guidemember 159 which i'sfalso designed to fit rather closely into the space between the presser roll I2'and the rubber faced r011 20 which drives the crimper. In this passageway the leading edge of each master strip 18% is guided to the position at which the crimper roll and its rubber faced roll are inter-geared. As soon as these 'two elementsgrip the severed strip of paper they so cause the strip to advance that, before the next stripcutting operation takes place, the paper is under tension-across a recess of the presser roll.

.The crimper roll is in the nature of a steel shaft with its surface machined to present suchlongitudinal flutes or ribs a those indicated at 2 I. It is also machinedwith a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves which receive strippers in the form of metallic teeth formed as downward projections of the stripper plate 24 which is fixed in uprightposition at the forward end of the convoluter presser Plate 25. These strippers act to remove the crimped strips from the crimper roll in order that ,the convolutions Qffihe strips may beinitiated;

The resilient facing lfiflofthe crimper presser' roll 20 is of, sufficient depth to permit desired.

penetration thereof by the teeth ofthecrimper roll, and this "penetration is capable 'ofvariation, by. mechanism. described in the parent application; 1

When coated paper is usedas the material from which the sticks are produced, it is essential that somewetting or bonding agent be applied inorder that the sticks ma become thoroughly bonded-1 In the;present instance, water is utilized as such. an agent. "The water applied to and, to some.

extent, absorbed by thexmain belt. One advantage ofutilizing a belt of absorptive material. is

that the application of the bonding agent may be.

effectedat the exterior convolutions, of the rolls (or master sticks) and at the proper time, in the op'eration'of the machine. 1,

. the illustrative machine the time of effective application ofthe bonding agent isduring.

the passage of the sticks through the compacting.

zone F (see Fig. 2A). Here, the. increased pressure ofrthe sticksagainst the belt causes the absorbed water to be pressed from thebelt and thus.

applied to the exterior convolutions of the sticks. As illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings the forward end of the main belt i trained around a;

roller pulley [63. At the discharge end of the machine, the belt passes over' a large diameter pulley which is fixed to a driven shaft 112 so as to act as the driving element for the belt.

lAt the forward, or infeed end of the machine, the paper supply roll H is mounted so as to facilitate the removal of it shaft I15 upon which isleft the'core of an exhausted paper supply roll and also to facilitate the substitution of a full supply roll. As illustrated, the supply roll shaft is supported by bearings upon the forwardextensionsQS-and 50 of the mainframe members, and these hearings are formed by spaced roller I16 and ITI which act to cradle the supply roll shaft (as indicated in Fig. 5). The latter is non-rotatablymounted in the core I78 of the supply roll.

' to enable the operator to quickl 'place a new supply roll in operative position. I

For minimizing production costs, a maximum percentage of the paper orother sheet material should be utilized in the ultimate product and,

is important that there be some mean for corresting this conditionand aligning thefeedroll strip withfthe rollstand elements and with the remaining operative component of the machine. Such means are indicated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings. It includes two spaced annular members lBI and I'SZWhich-are fixed upon the outer end of the supply roll shaft [15. Thesemembers may constitute" parts of a sleevewhich i fixed upon the shaft and arranged tofoim a circu n ferential groove between them. Iii-operation, the

9 spaced parts I83 and I84ofan adjusting head I85 are closely received between the spaced annular members IBI and I82 as indicated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This head includes a block I86 slidably mounted upon the upper end of an arm I81 pivoted at an intermediate position tdthe main frame by the pin I 88 and having its lower end formed with a slot I89 to receive the stem I90 of a clamp screw I9I by which-the arm I8? i securely'anchored in its operative position. This arm is shown in its inoperative position in Fig. and it may be held in this position by the tightening of the intermediate clamp screw I92.

When the pivoted arm is in the position shown in Fig. 5, it permits the installation of a new supply roll, and after the shaft of the latter is in position the intermediate clamp screw I92 is released, and the arm IB'I swung clockwise from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5. Then the clamp screws I9I and I92 are tightened so as to hold the'arm in its upright or operative position.

The slidable head I86 of the pivoted arm structure is movable relative to the remainder of the structure by means of an adjusting screw I93 which is freely rotatable in a depending part I94 of the head and is screw threaded into the upper end of the main part of the arm structure as indicated in Fig. 6.

The extent of movement of the head I36 laterally of the main part of the pivoted arm I81 is small but it is sufficient to compensate for imperfections in the winding of the paper upon the supply roll. The extent of movement of the head with reference to the arm is indicated by the length of the slots I95 and I96 in this head. These slots (see Fig. '7) receive the stems of the pins or cap screws I91 and I98 which are preferably threaded into the main part of the pivoted part of the main arm'structure. Any twisting or turning of the head with reference-to the base may be prevented by a longitudinal groove and rib construction, which is indicated in Fig. 6 at I99 and zoo.

In the operation of the machine the attendant carefully notes the condition of the sides of the supply roll and, when he sees that the paper is aboutto unwind at a position at which it is imperfectly wound he will turn th adjusting screw to compensate for this imperfection and thus eliminate difiiculties which would otherwise impair the operation of the machine.

'It will be noted that the operation of the adjusting screw I93 affords a. precision adjustment of the slidable head with respect to the remainder of the supply roll aligner. of the adjusting screw are such that fine adjustment is afforded.

The strip material on the supply roll is unwound by the pull exerted upon the paper by the rollers associated with and constituting a part of the stripcutting mechanism. The paper first passes in a straightrun around a tensioning roller 292 supported at the rearward or upward end of a pivoted frame. The side. members 203 of this frame are mounted so asto pivot around the axis of the supply roll and the frame is spring biased downwardly. Thus the paper strip unwinding from thesupply roll is maintained under tension without involving any unnecessary whip of the tensioning mechanism. as the resistance to the advance of the paper varies.

Beyondthe tensioning roller 2 the paper passes through an opening 208 at the front end of the supply roll brake 209, and between that brake and aguide rod'or roller 210 mounted upon Also the threads 2M 10 standards 2I I fixed to the main frame at a position forwardly of the roll stand.

After a supply roll is mounted in operative position as above indicated, the brake mechanism i placed in position with its forward end pivotally mounted upon the rod or roller 2H] and with its undersurface in contact with the periphery of the paper supply roll. The paperis then pulled from the supply roll, passed underneath the tensioning roller 292 and then upwardly through the opening 268 at the front of the supply roll brake. It is then folded back so that its leading end is passed underneath a straight-edge 2I3 which is mounted near the forward end of the supply-roll brake. This straight-edge extends across the brake member M9 and is normally biased'upwardly to a position spaced from the upper surface of the brake member by coil springs shown in detail in the parent application. Normally,

however, this straight-edge is so spaced from the upper surface of the brake member that the leading end of the paper may be easily passed through the opening between the lower surface of the straight-edge and the upper part of the brake member. This straight-edge i then manually pressed downwardly tightly against the paper and its irregular leading edge is torn off so as to form a straight leading edge. This edge is thenthreadflat base which-is provided with a weight 224 at a position above its contact with the supply roll. This weight plus the weight of the entire brake structure being such as to prevent overrunning of the supply roll and to cooperate withthetensioning roller ZIIZ to maintain the paper tension within the desired limits. This frame is also freely-pivotable about the guide rod 2H] and for that purpose it is provided at its forward end with side yokes 215 which fit closely about the upper surfac of the guide rod and permit the entire brake mechanism to be easily lifted from its operative position so as to enable the operator to quickly dispose a new supply roll in its operative position. I

The parts of the illustrative machine are so arranged that the drive is initially, to the discharge end of, the main conveyor belt, or carrier 28. This has the advantage that the belt'is put under tension throughout the operative zones of the machine. An additional advantage is that the conveyor belt thus acts as a driving means for the cutting, crimping and feeding mechanism. By this arrangement the operation of the strip cutting mechanism may be independently stopped under certain conditions, and, thereafter, the conveyor belt will tend to continue its ov ent u t l the operative zones are freed of the advancing sticks. This is important because the sticks, if permitted to remain stationary in the operative zones above the belt will have a tendency to pick up an excessive amount of moisture from the belt and be thereby ruined.

The motor 48 drives a first counter-shaft 225 by means of a series of endless belts 226 trained around a pulley 22'! of small diameter on the motor shaft and a pulley 228 of considerably larger diameter upon the'counte'r-shaft 225.

The drive from the first counter-shaft takes place through a driving sprocket. pinion 229' fixed to the first counter-shaft and operatively engaged rotatably mounted in the frame of the machine beneath the discharge end of the main supply belt. From the second counter-shaft power is transmitted to the shaft I12 by a sprocket pinion 233 fixed upon that counter-shaft. Around this pinion is trained a sprocket chain 234 which passes around a sprocket wheel235 of considerably larger diameter fixed upon the shaft I72. This sprocket chain is maintained in appropriate driving condition by an idler sprocket 236 rotatably mounted upon the end of a crankarm 231 which is biased upwardly by a counter-weight 238 adjustably mounted rearwardly on a rod 239 upon which the counter-weightisslidable. For maintaining the idler sprocket against the main drive chain the crankarm and the counterweight arm are mounted so that they move as a unit. Preferably this unitary construction pivots freely around a counter-weight rod 240.

The drive by means of a conveyor belt to the crimper and strip cutting mechanism at the forward end of the machine takes place through a shaft I69 upon which the roll or pulley H is fixed, the details of this driving mechanism being described in the parent application.

It has been found that the condition of the paper near the center of many supply rolls is such that it will not properly pass through the machine and form the illustrative sticks in the desired manner and for this reason it is important that the infeed of paper into the machine be interrupted while several feet of the paper still remain upon the supply roll. Otherwise the folded up or deformed paper near the end of the strip on the supply roll will cause the machine to become clogged with imperfectly formed sticks,

and much valuable time will be lost while the machine is being cleared. Therefore, the illustrative machine includes mechanism by which the infeed of paper is stopped automatically at a time in the operation of the machine when there is but a few feet of paper left upon the supply roll.

The mechanism for accomplishing the above indicated, result includes a presser head normally in contact with the periphery of the supply roll. This head is preferably integral with an arm 258 fixed upon a rod 259 mounted in bearings in the frame of the machine at a position beneath the supply roll. Toward one end of the rod, and at a position laterally of the supply roll, this rod is provided with a sprocket pinion 260 ,fixed thereto.

A sprocket chain 263 is trained around this pinion and a similar pinion 26l fixed upon an upper stub shaft 262. The latter is biased in one direction by a counter-weight 264 adjustably and releasably mounted on a rod 265 fixed to the stub shaft. By this arrangement of elements the presser head is held lightly against the surface of the supply roll and the rod 259 is permitted to gradually turn in a counter-clock wise direction as the supply roll diminishes in diameter. As this action takes place the crankarm 266, fixed upon the rod 259 at the side of the machine remote from the operators station,

moves correspondingly so that a pin 260 secured in its upper end rides in a slot 261 formed in a control link 262 which is movable from the vertical position in which'it is indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings to a horizontally inclined position.

This link 262 is shown in Fig. 8 in the position in which it is disposed when the presse'rfoot is engaging the periphery of a new supply roll.

As the crankarm 266 moves from its Fig.8 position to its feed stopping position it exerts a pull upon the control link 262 and consequently causes a counter-clockwise movement of a detent link 26'! to which the control link is pivotally connected. This detent link is pivotally mounted at the lower end of a sleeve 268 which forms a guide for a vertically movable main control rod 269, the latter being provided near its lower end with a recess 27!! in which the detent 2' of the link is received when the parts are in the'positions indicated in Fig. 8.

Under conditions of normal operation the detent link 26'! is held at the extreme limit of its clockwise movementas indicated in Fig. 8. The detent 21! is held within the recess 2'") of the control rod and the latter is thus prevented from falling to its feed interrupting position. I

When the paper supply roll is so depleted that it causes the detent link 26'! to disengage the control rod, the latter drops and falls upon a, part 213 of a bellcrank 2H and causes the other arm 215 of the latter to act against a pin 216 carried by an arm 21'! of the detent for the main control weight 211 The latter is guided vertically by a housing 218 and its upper end is connected bya cable 219 to the rim of a large diameter grooved wheel 280 fixed upon the handwheel shaft or control rod 252. By reason of this arrangement of elements the relation of the detent for the main weight, or the movement of this detent from its Fig. 8 position permits the main weight to drop as indicated, and, consequently, to so turn the control rod 252 for the belt tightener pulley that the drive from the third countershaft to the paper feeding mechanism is interrupted. The main weight is such that it overbalances the effect of ;a counter-weight associated therewith as shown in the parent application. Under normal operation this counterweight holds the belt tightener pulley in such position that power is continuously transmitted to the roll stand.

The detent 284-for holding the main control counter-weight in its elevated position is held in engagement with ratchet teeth 285 upon the forward edge of the counter-weight by the action of a coil spring 286 secured to a crankarm 281. This element is fixed to the pintle 288 upon which the detent member 284 is fixed and the detent for the vertically sliding control rod is preferably continuously biased toward its engagement with the control rod by a small diameter coil spring 289 which passes over a sheave 29B and has a freely hanging counter-weight 29] secured to its lower end as clearly indicated.

Thus, when the sliding control rod is moved to its elevated position the main control counterweight becomes locked in it elevated position as soon as it is raised thereto, and the control rod is also automatically locked in its elevated position. For raising-the control rod to the limit of its vertical path of movement, mechanism is provided and arranged so that it may be operated from a position convenient to the operators station. 'This mechanism includes crankarms 293 and 294 fixed to a lower pintle 295 mounted on bellcrank 214 is adapted to contact with the lower end of the control rod 269, or adjusting mechanism 360 which moves as a, unit with that rod. Thus, when this pintle 295-is turned in a clock- Wise direction the control rod will be raised to its elevated position in order that the control parts may be so looked that the machine will continue in normal operation.

The crankarm 2B3 is turned clock-wise-by the lifting of an upright link Sill which is pivoted at its lower end to the other crankarm 294 extending from the lower pintle and pivoted at its'upper end to a crankarm 393 which is fixed to a manually operated control rod 304 transversely and rotatably mounted in the machine. This control rod extends across the machine toward the operators station where it is provided with V a handwheel 365 by which it maybe turned so as to raise the control rod and permit the machine to resume its normal operation While maintaining the control parts in such condition that the infeed of paper to the roll stand mechanism Will be automatically stopped when a predetermined amount of paper remains upon the supply roll.

In the event that the paper fails to travel properly through the strip cuttin mechanism and to the crimper, and winds up upon the cutter roll l3 the detent 25-! for the main control rod will be withdrawn, or forced slightly in a clockwise direction to the position in which it is indicated. This action will permit the main control rod to fall was to strike the lower arm 213 of the bellcrank 216 which acts upon the detent 284 for the main control weight 217 to release the latter, allow it to fall, and thus stop the operation of the crimper, cutter, and paper feeding mechanism.

After the undesired condition of the paper around the recessed presser roll is corrected, normal operation of the machine may be resumed only after the auxiliary control rod309 .is moved to its elevated position, and held in that position by the engagement of the detent on the control lever 301. Subsequently, of course, the control hand wheel 385 must be operated to raise the main control rod 269 to its elevated position. The very fact that this plurality of manual operations is necessary before the normal operation of the machine can be resumed tends to eliminate any premature resumption of such operation.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific and preferred embodiments, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not limited to all of the details thereof, but that it is, rather, of a scope commensurate with the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a candy stick machine, means for convoluting paper sections to form loosely convoluted rolls, means including a rotatable paper supply roll for supplying and feeding said sections to the convolutin means, a mounting for the supply roll, means forming a passageway in which the rolls are further convoluted and compacted to form rods, a part of said last named means including a carrier, a cutter head forming with the carrier a substantial continuation of the passageway, knives carried by the cutter head and extending into the passageway so that the ends of the rods are out 01f smoothly by rolling against and along the knives, and means active upon the supply roll and its rotatable mounting for axially displacing the supply roll to maintain a substantial end portion of each uncut rod on the outer side of each knife, said last named meansv being operative while the machine and all of'said means'are in normal operation.

'2. A- machine for producing candy stick-s comprising, in combination, means convoluting sheet material to'form loosely convoluted rolls, means including a rotatably mounted supply roll for supplying sheet material to said convoluting means, means compacting said rolls by further convoluting action at increased pressure to form substantially solid rods, a plurality of relatively fixed cutting'elements extendinginto the path of said rods and operative to smoothly cut-01f the end of said rods, means rolling said rodsover said cutting elements while the increased pressure and convoluting action of said compacting are maintained, a cutter head including said elements and presenting a surface against which the rods are rolled while they are cut, and means for axially moving said supply roll to maintain uncut rod ends extending outside of the zones of actionofsaid cutter elements.

3. In a candy stickmachine, a convoluter act ing upon pa-per'strips toform them into convoluted rolls, means includin g'a rotatable supply roll mount for supplying paper strips to the convoluter, aconrpacter further convoluting the rolls to form them into substantially solid rods of smaller diameter, the compacter' presenting opposite roll contacting and passageway forming surface devices at least one of which is normally in motion, a rod cutter head normally spaced from said moving surface device to form therewith a continuation of said passageway, the head having spaced cutters projecting into the passageway continuation for transversely cutting the rods near their ends, means maintaining said surface units in fixed passageway forming relationship, means normally holding the cutter head pressed against rods rolling along the moving de- --vice, and means effective-to precisionally change the position of the supply roll axially thereof without interruption of the normal operation of the machine or any of said means, said supply roll position changer being operative to maintain the opposite end portions of each uncut rod outside the lines of action of said spaced cutters.

4. In a machine for forming small diameter convoluted rods from strip material, roll mount means rotatably maintaining a supply roll of the strip material in operative position, strip convoluting and rod forming means including a carrier, a rod cutter associated with the rod delivery zone of the carrier and acting to transversely cut through the convolutions of the rod near the rod ends as the rods are advanced by the carrier, strip feeding and cutting means unrolling the strip material from the supply and cutting rod forming strips from the unrolled material, and means associated with the roll mount operative to make precision changes in the relation of the supply roll and the rod cutter axially of the supply roll without interrupting the operation of any of said means or the rod cutter, the last named means including a part fixed relative to the supply roll.

5. In a rod forming machine, strip convoluting 315 cut-ofi the ends of the rods, and means maintaining the strip and said stream of rods in a path of movement including said fixed positions of the rod cutters, said last named means including a supply roll shifter operative to move said roll axially.

6. In a machine forming small diameter rods of convoluted sheet or strip material, bearing means rotatably and slidably mounting a shaft for a supply roll of said sheet or strip material, strip cutting and feeding means severing the strip material into rod strips, 3, convoluter receiving the rod strips and forming them into convoluted rolls of a length. equal to the width of the sheet material on the supply roll, a roll compaoter further convoluting said rolls into substantially solid small diameter rods, the convoluter and compacter causing the severed sheet material to be fed the machine while into the rolls and rods advance through the convoluter and compacter in closely spaced and parallel positions, a rod cutter having a rod cutting element near each side of the path of movement of the rods and operating to smoothly cut-off the ends of the rods as they advance through the machine, and a supply roll mover associated with said bearing means and effective to maintain the rods with the ends of each rod beyond the lines of action of said cutting elements. Y

7. In a machine for forming small diameter convoluted rods from strip material; roll mount means rotatably maintaining a supply roll of the strip material in operative position to supply the strip material to the machine; strip convoluting and rod forming means including a carrier; a rod cutter associated with the rod delivery zone of the carrier and including knives acting to transversely out through the convolutions of the rod near the rod ends as the rods are advanced by the carrier; strip feeding and cutting means unrolling the supply roll and cutting rod forming strips from the unrolled material; and means associated with the roll mount operative to make precision changes in the relation of the supply and the rod cutter axially of the supply roll without interrupting the operation of any of said means or the rod cutter; the last named means and the roll mount including a shaft upon which the supply roll is non-rotatably mounted, rotating lower bearing elements normally cradling 0pposite end portions of the shaft and rotatably supporting the roll, upper rotating bearing elements for engaging the shaft and preventing its disengagement from the lower bearing elements, means for shiftably mounting the upper bearing elements independently of the mounting for the lower bearing elements, a normally fixed device engaging a portion fixed relative to the shaft to determine the endwise or axial position of the latter, and means included in said device for effecting axial movement of the shaft through its bearings and hence axial movement of the supply roll to maintain rod portions on each side of the lines of action of said knives.

8. In a machine for forming rods by rolling up sheet material; a, support for said material a convoluter forming loosely convoluted rolls from sections of said material; a roll compacter forming smaller diameter rods from said rolls as the rolls and rods advance in closely spaced parallelism through the machine; a rod cutter including cutting elements in fixed positions normally in the path of movement of the end portions of the rods so as to smoothly transversely cut off the end portions of the rods; and means disposed in advance of the convoluter and acting upon said support for controlling the axial positions of the rods with respect to the cutters to maintain uncut rod end portions of suflicient length outside the lines of action of aid cutting elements.

STUART L. PERKINS, Executor of the Estate of Hiram A. Perkins, De-

ceased.

MADELEINE P. HATHAWAY, Ewecutrizc of the Estate of Hiram A. Perkins, De-

ceased. 

